Russia: The International Chamber of Commerce held an arbitration hearing over Russian magnate Sergei Pugachev’s claims for USD 12B from the government. (AP)

United Kingdom: An investigation is ongoing into a suspected noxious substance that burned 12 patrons at a London nightclub. (Telegraph)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails went on hunger strike over conditions of captivity, with more expected to join, in one of the biggest protests in recent years. (Guardian)

Region: The armed wing of Hamas al-Qassam Brigades said that one of the group’s militants was killed in a tunnel collapse in eastern Gaza. (Xinhua)

Syria: Russia, the US and the UN plan to discuss the Syrian crisis in Geneva next week. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: A mysterious group called “Shadow Brokers” disclosed some Windows hacking tools, purportedly stolen from the NSA, but Microsoft said most of the listed exploits have already been patched. (TechTimes)